Stock-chute



(No Modexf) J.4 W. MOHLER & J.-L.'P0LTZ.

STOCK CHUTE No. 595,643. l Patented Deo. 14,1897.

JAMES W. MOHLER AND JACOB PATENT Fries,

L. FOLTZ, OF MOVILLE, IOWA.

STOCK-CH UTE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,643, dated December 14, 1897. Application tiled May 4, 1857. Serial No. 635,076. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that we, JAMES W. MOHLER and JACOB L. FOLTZ, citizens of the United States, residing at Moville, in the county of Woodbury and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Stock-Chute, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in stock-chutes.

The object of the present invention is'to provide for stock-chutes a simple and inexpensive platform adapted to be normally arranged on the bottom of a chute and capable of being readily extended to bridge the space between a stock-chute and a car to enable stock to be readily run into the latter,

A further object of the invention is to provide such a platform which will be capable of lateral adjustment to enable it to be positioned properly with relation to a car-door should a car be stopped in front'of the chute with its door not directly opposite the movable platform, thereby obviating the necessity of adjusting the car to suit the platform.4

The inventionconsists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a stock-chute provided with a platform constructed in accordance with this invention, the latter being extended. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View, the platform being elevated to bring the link and the bend of the rock-shaft in a vertical position. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, the platform being folded on the bottom of the chute.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several iigures of the drawings. v

1 designates a movable platform mounted on the bottom 2 of a stock-chute and adapted to be normally arranged or folded in on the same, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings, and to be quickly extended or thrown outward to bridge the space loe`v tween the stock-chute and a car, in order to enable animals to be readily transferred to the latter. The platform l, which is rectangular, as shown, and which is disposed loni gitudinally of the stock-chute, is provided on line of movement of the platform enable the latter to havek a sufficient movement to carry it inward entirely over the stock-chute, so that it will not, when folded, project beyond the same. The bottom 2 of the stock-chute is provided with alined bearings 8 and 9 for the rock-'shaft and the link 7, and one end of the rock-shaft is extended parallel with the adjacent side of the'bend, forming a handle 10, the terminal of which is bent at right angles to provide a convenient grip. The rock-shaft is j ournaled on the bottom of the stock-chute at opposite sides of the bend or link portion 5, and the rectangular link 7 has the lower terminals of its sides bent outward to form journals which are arranged in the bearings 9. The rectangular bend of the rock-shaft and the rectangular link are sufficiently wide to permit the platform which is slidingly mounted on them, to be adjusted laterally for positioning the same properly with relation to the door of the car, so that the car will not have to be shifted should it be stopped with the door not directly opposite the platform.

The platform is shifted by means of an operating-rod l1, disposed longitudinally of the rock-shaft, and provided at its inner end with an eye l2, arranged on alongitudinal loop or keeper 18, disposed at one side of the platform and constructed of suitable material. The operating-rod, which extends through a longitudinal opening 14 of the handle of the rock-shaft, has its outer end 15 bent at right angles to form a handle and to provide a stop to prevent the operating-rod from becoming accidentally disconnected from the handle of the rock-shaft. The operating-rod enables the platform to be readily shifted laterally and is in convenient reach of the operator IOO when he is in position for manipulating the rock-shaft.

It will be seen that the platform is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, that it is adapted to be readily applied to any ordinary stock-chute, and that it is capable of being instantly thrown inward and outward and adjusted laterally to position it properly with relation to the door of the car.

What we clailn isl. The combination with a stock-chute or analogous structure, of an extensible platform disposed longitudinally of the chute and having a limited direct longitudinal movement, whereby it is adapted to project beyond the stock-chute to bridge the space between the same and a car and is also adapted to be moved inward entirely over the chute, the parallel link connections between the platform and the chute, said link connections being arranged to swing long ritudinally of the platform, and means for swinging the platform inward and outward, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a stock-chute, a platform, a rock-shaft journaled on the platform and provided with a rectangular link or bend connected with the platform, the rectangular link 7 arranged parallel with the link or bend of the rock-shaft and hinged to the chute and to the platform, and a handle connected with the rock-shaft, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a stock-chute, and a movable platform capable of lateral adjustment, of the parallel link connections hinged to the chute and the platform and having a sliding connection with the latter, a handle for manipulating the link connections provided with a longitudinal opening, and an operating-rod passing through the opening of the handle and connected to the platform, substantially as described.

et. The combination with a stock-chute, of an extensible platform adapted to bridge the space between the chute and a car, the par' allel link connections between the platform and the chute, said platform being slidingly mounted on the link connections and capable of lateral adjustment, and means for moving the platform longitudinally and transversely, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a stock-chute, a transverse rock-shaft journaled on the chute and provided with a rectangular bend, a handle connected with the rock-shaft and hav ing a longitudinal opening, a link hinged to the chute, a platform slidingly connected with the bend and the link and provided at one side with a longitudinal loop or keeper, and an operating-rod passing through the openin g of the handle and slidingly connected with the loop 01' keeper, substantially as described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own wehave hereto ailixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

J AS. YV. MOHLER. JACOB L. FOLTZ.

Vitnesses:

W. E. HALL, R. M. MCCARTED. 

